Collar and shirt protector.



No. 636,864. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

G. W. STAUFFER.

COLLAR AND SHIRT PROTECTOR.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1899.

1N0 Model.)

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OrFicE.

GRANVILLE WV. STAUFFER, OF PH(ENIXVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TONATHAN P. STAUFFER, OF SAME PLACE.

COLLAR AND SHIRT PROTECTOR.

SPEGIFICA TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,864, datedNovember 14, 1899. Application filed March 23, 1899. Serial No. 710,241.(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRANVILLE W. STAUF- FER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Phoenixville, in the county of Chester and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollar and Shirt Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of protectorsdesigned to be worn about the neck by individuals to protect the collarand shirt-front from becoming soiled or to give additional protection tothe person of the wearer when worn with a low-cut vest or dress-suit;and the object of the invention is to simplify the device, rp 'nder itlight and efficient in use, and adapt it for use in connection withcollars of any style or shape.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a device embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is across-sectional view showing its use in connection with a collar. Fig. 3is a crosssectional view in detail through the upper portion, showingthe extensible box plait. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of theretaming-band.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate thesaineparts.

The body portion A of the structure is preferably formed of silk orother light and tasty material and is adapted to be of a shape whichwill cover the shirt-front of the wearer and also drop down over thecollar of the shirt and be long enough at the sides and back to ,protectthe same.

From the drawings it will be noted that it takes the shape of a bib ordepending curtain, open at the back at a and relatively long at thefront. At the upper end it is provided with a band B, made in the formof a fabric of the wearer and with the edges overlapped at the backtoprevent the entry of dirt and give a wide range for different-sizedpersons. The inherent elasticity of the retaining-strip holds the partsin their proper shape about the wearers neck. The strip is perforated at0. Thus there will be sufficient ventilation to prevent the neck of thewearer from becoming unduly warm, which will be more readily appreciatedwhen it is understood that the band fits down inside the shirt-collar.

The body of the material constituting the bib or curtain, from the bandto the lower end of the front or widest portion, is formed with arelatively wide box-plait E, Fig. 1, having lines of stitches 6 down itsedges and stitched together throughout the lower portion of its length;but at the upper portion the meeting edges at the back of the plait areleft disconnected, whereby the material at this point may be expanded toadapt itself to wings or collars of different shapes without otherwisedistorting the shape of the device, and thus it will always present aneat and tasty appearance. To hold the lower end of the bib or curtaindown, I preferably weight the lower end in front, and as the mostconvenient way of accomplishing this end I preferably attach a smallmetallic weight G, Fig. 1.

In the use of the device the wearer will distend the curvedretaining-strip and place the same around his neck and within-thecollar, the body portion of the protector extending from the bandupwardly over the edge of the collar and then dropping down over theoutside of the collar and over the shirt-front, as illustrated clearlyin Fig. 2.

Obviously the curved retaining-strip may be made of steel or otherinherently elastic substance which will retain its curve to fit thewearers neck, and the body portion may be made of any desired materialand ornamented or padded to suit the taste of the wearer or theparticular use for which it is intended-i. e., Whether for summer, whereit is simply a guard against dirt and dust, or for winter wear, as aguard against the cold.

Primarily the device is intended for use of the traveling public orpersons who wish to prevent the soiling of their linen, and for such IOOuse it is preferably made of a washable material, and the band isprovided with an opening through which the retaining-strip may beremoved or inserted, thus adapting the device to be readily washed orcleansed for subsequent use.

It will he noticed that the device is cheap, simple in its construction,readily adapts itself to any style or shape of collar, and when not inuse may be doubled up within the retaining-band and slipped into thepocket of the user in a neat compact form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is-

1. The herein-described article comprising the neckband, open at theback and having the curved retaining-strip therein with its endsoverlapping and the body portion attached to the upper edge of saidneckband, narrow at the back and extending downwardly at the front, witha box-plait formed centrally of such front portion, the sides of theupper portion of such boX-plait being disconnected to permit the bodyportion to expand at the upper end to accommodate collars of differentstyles; substantially as described.

2. An article such as herein described, comprising a heckband having anelastic retainin g-strip therein, with the ends overlapped to conform tothe neck of the wearer, said strip being perforated for ventilation anda textile body portion formed narrow and open in the back and relativelylong and wide in front, said body portion being attached to the edge ofthe neckband,wl1ereby said band is adapted. to fit within the collar ofthe wearer and the body portion to lie over the edge of the collar andprotect the outer surface thereof and the front of the shirt;substantially as described.

GRANVILLE W. STAUFFER. \Vitnesses:

CHAS. ALEXANDER, WILLIAM FITCH.

